Journal box



July 20, 1948. w. T. BISSELL JOURNAL BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1945 .ZIVVE/VTOIE} MLL/AM BIJ'JELL, fir WQ fiTO/PNEX July 20, 1948. w. T. BISSELML JOURNAL BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1945 ZNVENTO/fl MLL/AAM Z Bum-41., M a 744m Patented July 20, 1948 JOURNAL BOX William T. Bissell, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Journal Box Servicing Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application June 16, 1945, Serial No. 599,932

4 Claims. (Cl. 308-38) This invention relates to railroad car journal boxes in general, and in particular relates to means for preventing waste gralbs by the simple expedient of eliminating the diagonal pressure upon the waste in the box at the time the journal brass may be lifted when the car is subjected to sudden impact as frequently happens in railroad sorting yards where the cars are humped.

In the standard construction, it is customary to support the weight of the car through a truck side frame resting upon or being a part of the journal box into which extends the journal of the car wheel axle, and then mount a brass over a limited portion of the top side of the journal. The construction permits relative upward travel of the journal box without restraint other than the weight of the car and the load carried thereby. Due to the inertia effect upon sudden stopping of the car, the car itself comes to a stop, but the mass of the wheels and trucks thereunder tend to move on with the result that when the side frames of the trucks are stopped, the wheel axle journals also tend to move on until they strike something .to stop that movement.

In the construction heretofore employed in journal boxes, the journal shoulder back of the brass strikes the ribs on each side of the dust guard channel tending to batter down those ribs, as well as destroy the dust guard itself, all with the result that the journal tends to roll ahead from under the brass thereon. This rolling ahead action by reason of the curvatures of the under side of the brass and the top side of the journal sets up a component of force which actually lifts the brass and the journal box rel-a tive to the journal, causing the journal to compress-the waste thereunder between the journal and the floor of the box. The direction of this compression is not vertically downwardly but diagonally rearwardly in relation to the relative travel of the journal toward the side of the box. The result of this diagonal downward pressure is a tendency to force the waste up around and between the journal and the side wall of the box,

on that side of the journal brass which is then lifted from the journal, all with the frequent result that particles of the waste enter under that lifted side of the brass and are pinched or gripped between the brass and the journal when the journal comes to rest and the brass settles back down thereon under the weight of the car.

Thereafter, when the car is set in motion, the grabbed waste eliminates any ability to lubricate the journal from the under mass of waste; the

brass heats; and the babbitt actually melts and flows; all .producing a condition requiring the car to be set out of the train if that condition is caught in time, otherwise the journal becomes unduly heated with the subsequent well known result. This heating action takes place very quickly, and such waste grabs while known to exist very frequently have not been recognized as due to the fact that there is an actual separation between the brass and the journal under the impact conditions above suggested.

It is the important object of this invention to eliminate the possibility of waste from entering between the brass and the journal due to any separating conditions, and to accomplish this result without adding any of the heretofore presented schemes of inserting members on each side of the journal in an attempt to hold down the waste. Such devices are ineffective under the extreme pressure produced by the lifting of the journal box relative to the journal. It is also an important object of the invention to provide a very simple device which may be utilized in the standard journal boxes without alteratlon' thereof, and be replaceable when necessary. Further, it is an important object to provide such means that may be utilized readily without interfering with the normal procedure 'of replacing wheel axles as becomes necessary from time to time when wheel flanges wear or flat spots occur on the wheels. A decided advantage of the in- -vention is found in the fact that damage to journal boxes is eliminated under the impact conditions. 'It has frequently been found to be Fig.

, Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a view in front elevation of the "dust guard parts of the invention in associated relation;

Fig. 6, a view in perspective of one of the impact transmitting members of the dust guard; and Fig. 7, a view in perspective of a dust guard illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the illustrations herein employed, the iour-' nal box In is shown to be an integral part of the side frame II. The journal i2 is inserted in the usual manner through an opening in the rear of the box it to extend by a portion within the box to receive the bearing ll thereon with the wedge ll thereover securing the bearing II in position, all in the usual and well known manner, this be- (ing the normal standard construction. Space is provided underthe journal l2 and above the floor of the box l into which the usual oil saturated waste I5 is packed.

Back of the Journal i2 is an enlarged diameter portion It on the car axle l1. This portion Ii is positioned to be that part of the axle II which extends through the rear end of the box It. The opening through the box I0 is of a larger diameter than that of the portion I 8 to provide clearance around that portion for relative shifting of the box l0 upwardly, particularly to permit removal of the bearing i2 for'replacement or to permit removal of the iournal l2 from the box, also necessitating lifting of the bearing to permit clearance over the outer end flange it of the journal i 2. The relationship of the shoulder IE to the opening, designated by the numeral 18 is best shown'in Fig. 8.

Inthe rear wall of the box Ill through which this opening I9 appears, there is provided a dust guard receiving groove 20, Fig. 2. 0n the rear side of this groove 20, the opening I! is defined. by a substantially circular margin, whereas the inner side is defined by a substantially rectangular flange 2| having the corners rounded.

An impact member 22, Figs. 5 and 6, is designed to have an under supporting leg IIterminating by a lower upturned foot 24. Then there is a body portion 25 continuing upwardly from the leg 23 to carry an impact head 28. The widths of the leg 22, foot 24, and body 25 are the same and are slightly less than the width of the groove 20 so that the member 22 may be fitted in that groove to have the body back therein,

and the leg 23 and foot 24 traversing substannal l2. and is given a width to permit it to slide freely within the groove III. at least by its under portion. Between the dust closure member 21 and the legs 22 of the members 22, are interposed some resilient means in order to resiliently urge the member 21 upwardly into sliding contact with the shoulder Ii. In the particular form herein shown. Figs. 5 and 6, a leaf spring 2| is attached to the leg 22 adjacent 'the foot 2| on each of the members 22 to normally curve upwardly and outwardly against the under side of the member 21. To permit adequate travel of the member 21 within the channel of the groove 22,

tially half of the lower part of the groove. The

head 26 extends across the groove and is shaped to have its back sides bear against the margin of the hole 19, Fig. 3, on the outer rear side of the box, and also to bear against the vertical edge portions of the inner flange 2|, Fig. 4. The rear sides of these portions of the head 28 extend across the two flanges defining the groove 20 therebetween, and are so proportioned as to bear against those flanges simultaneously with the back side of the body 25 hearing against the bottom of the groove 20. An identical member 22 is placed in the groove .20 on the opposite side, the feet 24 of the two members being brought into abutment at the lower end of the groove so as to prevent slipping downwardly of the members from their normally desired vertically disposed positions. These members 22 are further designed to have the central portions of the heads 26 substantially at the central horizontal diametrical plane of the journal l2.

The under dust closure member 21 is provided to have an upper surface curved to fit around substantially the entire under half of the ion:-

the underside of the member 21 is provided with a notch 22 in order to clear the two feet 24 thereunder should the journal box I 0 happen to be lifted unduly relative to the Journal II.

A top dust closure member 20 is provided to enter the groove 20 from the top side of the box and drop down by gravity to have an under curved surface come into sliding contact with the upper half of the axle portion I. In this respect, lower ends of the member ill extend respectitvely downwardly over the inner sides of the impact heads 22, and in like manner upwardly extending side portions of the lower dust closure member 21 extend upwardly along the heads 2!. However, these opposing ends of the two dust closure members 21 and 20 are spaced apart to permit the shoulder ii to contact directly the impact heads 2' on either side, a very slight clearance being provided between the shoulder and these heads whereby the shoulder normally turns free of contact with those heads although the clearance therebetween is sumciently close to prevent substantially entrance of dust and dirt into the box along th shoulder It. As indicated in Fi 5. the upper ends or the members 22 are stepped oi! fromtheir outer sides ber 20 between the impact heads 22 further serve to maintain the setting of the members 22 in the groove 22.

Now should the ear carrying the side frame ll be subjected to sudden stoppage, the axle 11 will tend to move laterally ofthe box II in a direction depending upon the direction of impact.

Since the Journal I 2 may travel but the slight clearance left between the impact heads 22 and the sides of the portion I, there cannot be sufflcient travel to cause the bearing 12 to be lifted upwardly since the bearing would normally have that amount of permissible travel within the box It in any event equal to the clearance between the Journal and the impact heads 20, Even though the bearing ll be absolutely stationary relative to the box I ll, there still could not be suf- .flcient lifting action of the bearing from the Journal to cause any harm since the journal l2 cannot travel any distance causing downward pressure on the waste II and tending to "squirt" it around upwardly between the side of the Journal and the side wall of the box into contact with the bearing edge.

In other words, the impact of the Journal toward the box is taken directly through the impact heads 26 and the back member 2! as well as through the rianges about the openinginto the box. Therefore, the impact is taken directly through those members to the box it. and no battering action can occur between the journal ii and the box itself. Any hammering away. of metal will come on the heads 26, and they may be replaced readily before being completely hammered away to permit the shoulder to come into contact with the flanges around the groove 2|.

Referring to Fig. 'l, the general contour of the dust guard, generally designated by the numeral II. is that of the customarily employed dust guard fitting within thegroove or slot III of the box ll. Normally this dust guard 35 is made out of wood and is free to slide vertically in the slot II of the box to follow the relative travel of the journal i2. Also, there is permitted lateral travel of the guard 35 within that slot 2. so that ordinarily the guard may function until there is excessive lateral travel of the journal II, where-- upon the guard becomes destroyed or at least crushed so that it no longer will follow the contour of the shoulder. In any event, it does not afford any resistance to relative travel between the journal i2 and the box iii. In this regard,

the guard 35 may have sections 36 and 31 of metal inserted in each side thereof to carry thepressure of the shoulder ii to the bottom of the slot in case of tendency of the journal I! to travel nal i2 relative to the box ll, only the back ends of the sections 38 and 31 may be brought into contact at the inner walls of the slot 2| to transfer the pressure from the journal thereto. In the form of the invention first above described, pressure is transmitted not only to the outer wall of the slot 20, but also to the peripheral flanges on each side thereof.

While the invention has been above described as being embodied in members separate from the journal box, it is obvious that the impact heads may be'formed as integral parts of the box to take the axle impact directl therethrough to the box itself and still perform the same object. namely the elimination of the lifting of the bearing brass from the journal under inertia conditions arising from car impact or harsh brake action.

A further important advantage of the invention not above mentioned arises in the extension of the usable life of the bearing brass. When the brass is subjected to the impact of the journal, the brass is tended to be pounded by its central locating portion against the receiving lug on the side of the box, with the result that the brass ends are spread relative to the central section. Thus by arresting relative lateral travel of the journal in respect to the box, the journal cannot travel to roll under the brass edge to distort the brass.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the forms as now best known to me. it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to those precise form's beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

Iclaim:

of the guard I5 to follow the shifting of the jour- 1. For a railway car journal box having a groove opening inwardly around a rear box opening; through which the journal extends into the box, the groove being defined by and between spaced apart ribs extending vertically of the box on each side of the journal and around across thereunaround outwardly from-the plane of said face to terminate approximately at the longitudinal, vertical, central plane of said box, the legbeing formed to be slidably received-within said groove; whereby said impact head may be inserted in said vboxwith the Journal'therein by entering said leg' in said groove to one side of the journal and drop-' ping the head to allow the leg to slide around the groove under the journal and have the anvil head be located on the side of the journal to sub-2 stantially fill in the space between that side-of the journal and the groove ribs.

2. For a railway car journal box having a groove opening inwardly around a rear box opening, through which the journal extends into the box',.the groove being defined by and between spaced apart ribs extending vertically of the box on each side of the journal and around across thereunder, all in normally spaced relation from the journal, an impact head comprising an anvii head having a substantially vertical, planar outer face to be presented toward the journal: a

body p rtion in the nature of a rib extending'v'erticaily across and fixed to the back of said head to'fit slidably in said groove to bottom therein,

upon approximate contact of the back side of said head with the outer edges of said ribs; and a head supporting leg extending therebelow and curving around outwardly from the plane of said entering said leg in said groove to one side of the another, thereby limiting the downward travel of each of said impact heads to central positions along the sides of the journal.

3. For a railway car journal box having a groove opening inwardly around a rear box opening, through which the journal extends into the box,

, the groove being defined by and between spaced apart ribs extending vertically of the box on each side of the journal and around across thereunder, all in normally spaced relation from the journal. an impact head comprising an anvil head having a substantially vertical, planar outer face to be presented toward the journal: at body portion in the nature of a rib extending vertically across andfixed to the back of said head to fit face to terminate approximately at the longitudi-' "nal, vertical, central plane of said box, the leg being formed to be slidably received within said groove; whereby said impact head may be insorted in said box with the journal therein by entering said leg in said groove to one side of theiournal and dropping the head to allow the leg to slide around the groove under the journal and have the anvil head be located on the side of the Journal to substantially fill in the space between that side of the journal and the groove ribs; a second impact head duplicating the first described impact head to be inserted in said groove on the opposite side of said Journal; and abutments on the free ends or said legs striking one another, thereby limiting the downward travel of each of said impact heads to central positions along the sides of the Journal; a lower closure member having a lower end portion at least slidable in said groove over said legs and having an upper portion entering by vertical edge portions between said heads below the central horizontal plane through said journal; and an upper closure member freely slidable by vertical edge portions in said groove on opposite sides of said box above said heads andhaving lower sections of those edge portions entering between said heads above said horizontal plane.

t. For a railway car journal box having a groove opening inwardly around a rear box opening, through which the journal extends into the box, the groove being defined by and between spaced apart ribs extending vertically of the box on each side of the journal and around across thereunder, all in normally spaced relation from the journal, an impact head comprising an anvil head having a substantially vertical, planar outer face to be presented toward the journal; a body portion in the nature of a rib extending vertically across and fixed to the back of said head to fit slidabiy in said groove to bottom therein upon approximate contact of the back side of said head 8 with the outer edges of said ribs; and a head supporting leg extending therebelow and curving around outwardly rrom the plane of said face to terminate approximately at the longitudinal, vertical, central plane of said box, the legbeing formed to be slidably received within said groove; whereby said impact head may be inserted in said box with the Journal therein by entering said leg in said groove to one side of the Journal and dropping the head to allow the leg to slide around the groove under the journal and have the anvil head be located, on the side oi the Journal to substantially fill in the space between that side of the journal and the groove ribs; a second impact head duplicating the first described impact head to be inserted in said groove on the opposite side of said Journal; and abutments on the free ends' of said legs striking one another, thereby limiting the downward travel oi each 0! said impact heads to central positions along the sides of the journal; a lower closure member having a lower end portion at least slidable in said groove over said legs and having an upper portion entering by vertical edge portions between said heads below the central horizontal plane through said journal} and an upper closure member freely slidable by vertical edge portions in said groove on opposite sides of said box above said heads and having lower sections of those edge portions entering between said heads above said horizontal plane; and resilient means spacing said lower closure member from said underlying legs.

- WILLIAM T. BISBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

